![]() ![]() Spotting the further potential of the puppet, the BBC offered Corbett his own series, which began in 1955. ![]() Renamed Sooty, the bear made his television debut in 1952 on the BBC's Talent Night, which led to appearances on Peter Butterworth's Saturday Special soon thereafter. The ensuing tour saw the teddy puppet portion of his act hugely popular with the audiences, and Harry credited those shows with teaching much of the vital stagecraft he would use for the rest of his career. Remembering his neighbour played the piano, Harry was duly booked in her place. The Government wanted to send the quiz on a tour of northern coalfields to boost miners' morale, but Carson wanted nothing to do with it. One of Harry's neighbours was Barney Colehan, then the producer of Have A Go, a popular radio quiz hosted by Wilfred Pickles, with Carson playing piano. Before long, the bear's antics were so popular he restructured the entire act around it.Ī little-known fact is that Harry and Sooty owe a huge debt of gratitude to Violet Carson, better known as hair-netted harridan Ena Sharples in Coronation Street. It would be the best investment of his life.Ĭhristening the bear Teddy, Corbett initially only used it to entertain his two sons, only later incorporating the puppet into his magic shows. He bought the bear for seven shillings and sixpence. According to a Guardian article published in 1987, Corbett recalled the moment, saying "Even now I can't tell you exactly what it was about him, but I just couldn't leave him". Corbett's eye was caught by a yellow bear puppet. Then, on 19th July 1948, the Corbett family - which, by this time, was made up of Harry's wife Marjorie and sons David and Peter, the latter of whom would change his name professionally to Matthew - while holidaying in Blackpool, happened upon a novelty shop on the North Pier. Image shows left to right: Matthew Corbett, Harry Corbett, Marjorie Corbett Image shows left to right: Matthew Corbett, Harry Corbett, Marjorie Corbett Matthew, Harry and Marjorie Corbett pictured in 1964 as Soo was first introduced. Matthew, Harry and Marjorie Corbett pictured in 1964 as Soo was first introduced. ![]() His day job saw him work for Leeds City Council as an engineer and he'd also honed a one hour magic act, which he performed for extra money in the evenings. Music was his chosen career path, though sadly deafness in one ear precluded him from pursuing it professionally. Harry Corbett was the nephew of famous fish and chip mogul Harry Ramsden, for whom he played piano in his restaurants. The gags he does with the gang on television now are the same ones Harry did in the 1950s, when Sooty genuinely did have soot dabbed on his ears so he would show up on black and white television (hence the name), and they still make children and adults alike shriek with laughter. ![]() His success can be attributed to many things - some would say it's the characters, some would say it's the childish joy it brings to generation upon generation, but the real answer, according to current right hand man Cadell, is Sooty's simplicity. Collating all the variant TV formats together, Sooty is the longest-running children's programme in the world. That mantra has been screamed by kids, parents, grandparents and great-grandparents at the television and in theatres for a whopping seventy five years. But the mute yellow bear that casts the spell?Īnd cast a spell he did. Barney's Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes Vol."Izzy wizzy, let's get busy!" The words themselves were usually spoken by one of three people: Harry Corbett, his son Matthew Corbett and magician Richard Cadell.1993: Barney's Favorite Mother Goose Rhymes ![]()
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